Canal lining machine



June 3, 1952 l. L. GEBHARD v CANAL LINING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

A77 T GENE V5 June 3, 1952 l. L. GEBHARD 2,598,903

CANAL LINING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /ew/ v l. G e/meo,

INVE T ,52 6 r6, L A. BY M 9 x Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED 1 STATES PATENT QEFl-CE 2,598,903 7 I Q V CANAL LINING MACHINE Irvin L. Gebhard, .Modesto, Calif., assignor to Western Contracting Corporation, SiouxCity, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa I Application AngustS, 1943, Serial cases This invention relates to material handling apparatus and'is particularly directed to improvements in paving or lining machines such as, for example, are employed inconnection with lining canals. a i

I have chosen to illustrate thevarious features of my'invention in connection with am'achi'ne for depositing and surfacing concrete on the bottomFa'nd sides of a canal, the machine spanning the canal and rolling on rails positioned on opposite sides of the ca'nal. U

The principal object'of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for discharging concrete from a hopper and for vibrating it just ahead of an advancing screed.

"Another object is to provide an improved mounting assembly for vibrators and for connecting the vibrators to operate an elongated elemerit extending through the hopper near its discharge 'opening' A related object is to mount the elongated element in the hopper for vibratory movement principally in a horizontal ane:

Another objectis 'toprovide a canal lining machine havinga distributor car movable transversely of the canal from'aloading position laterally beyond the main supporting rails to dischargingpositions above a hopper positioned between the rails. I

Another objectis to provide a canal lining machine having front and rear wheel assemblies adapted to roll on the rail's positio'ned on the wallsofthe canal, a wheel of one of said assemblies being flanged on both sides to receive the rail betweenthe flanges, and the wheels in each 01 the other assemblies-being 'ungroove'd whereby the machine may be operated to deposit a sheath of'concrete of uniform thickness on the bottom and's'l'oping sides of the canal.

Another object is to provide an indicator device adapted'to give visual indication to the operator "when the machine varies from a right angle position With respect to the parallel longitudinal 'ra'ils' on straight sections of the can 1, andto indicate any variationfrom a true radial position on curved portions of the canal.

A more detailed object is to provide a canal paving machine having a frame spanning'the can'al,"'together with hydraulic jacks mounted on wheeled trucks rolling on the canal walls so that the frame is adjustably supported on the hydraulic jacks.

'Other objects and advantages will appear more fully hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation in '1: claims.

hopper.

5 Figure 6 diagrammatic form illustrating a preferred embodiinent of my invention',the upper portion of the frame-work being omitted for clarity'of illustration.

"Figure 2' is a sectional side elevation also in diagrammatic form.

'Figure 3' isa sectional elevation taken su stantially on the 1ill 3- 3 as shown'in 'Figurel and showing details of the discharge endof the Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the wheeled supporting trucks on one wall of the canalahd showing amechamsm for indicating when the machine as awhol'e" varies fromtrue perpendicullarity' with respect to the longitudinal railsfor from a true radial position when *the' machine is'r'ounding a-cu'rve' -'=Fi'g ure 5 is a plan view partly broken away tak 'en substantially on the lines 5- 5 as shown in Figurel; Y i is an end. elevation of the parts of thedevice shownin-Fi'g'urefi;

Figured is'a plan view in diagrammatic form partly broken away showing the wheel assemblies rc'srsup'ponmg the'devi'ce.

' "Referring to the drawings, a framework generally designated I0 spans a canal "ll and'is adapted to roll on parallel rails l2 and I3 mounted on opposite walls of the CanaL 'Ihe framework lll is carriedion wheeled trucks or wheel assemblie's l4; l5, I'Band I! by means of suitable hydraulic jacks generally designated [8. Each' of these jacks 'includes'a stationary cylinder [9 fixed o'n-the end name 20 and adapted to receivea piston 2 I carried on the'u'pper-end of the piston rod 22. The piston rod 22 rests on'one of the wheeled trucks. Suitable hydraulicconnection's (not shown) are provided so that the end frames ZD and the framework H] which is connected thereto may be raised and lowered relative 'to the rails l2 and I3. Suchconne'c'tions preferably include means for operating each of the hydrauli'e' jacks'm individually orfor operating them in unison as desired. As clearly shown in Figures'l and 2 the framework [0 extends downwardly' intothe canal H between the sloping sides 23 and 2.4 and adjacent the canal bottom'25. A continuous hopper 26 is provided by side walls 21 and 28 which extend completely across the machine down one slope, across the bottom and up the other slope. The rear wall 21 of the hopper 25 may be formed of metal plate and is inclined slightly in the direction of forward travel as indicated by the arrow 29. At its lower end the wall 21 is joined with the screed 30. The forward Wall 28 of the ho per 26 may be inclined rearwardly in its upper portion, but the lower portion thereof is substantially parallel to the rear wall 21 and comprises a length of flexible material 3| having vibration damping characteristics. I have found that belting is a suitable material for the strip 3|. The extreme lower portion of the front wall of the hopper is formed by the metallic footpiece 32. The walls 21, 28 and the footpiece 32 are integrally joined at intervals by the divider plates 33. The strip 3| may be bolted to the wall 28 and footpiece 32 by the connection fittings 34.

A metallic tube 35 extends transversely across the hopper 26 adjacent its lower end and is pendently supported in position by means of the flexible element 36 extending within the hopper 26.

The lower end of the element 36 is attached to the tube 35 and the upper end is secured to a beam 31 which forms a part of the framework It]. The hopper walls 21 and 28 may be vertically adjusted with respect to the beam 31 by means of the shims 38 and securing bolts 39. Suitable cutouts 40 are provided in the divider plates 33 to provide clearance around the transverse tube 35.

Electrically operated vibrator elements 4| are .mounted in pairs on a common mounting plate 42. The plates 42 are attached to the flexible strip 3| by means of the bolts 43. The bolts 43 also secure one end of the struts 44 to the plates 42 and the other ends of the struts 44 are welded or otherwise'attached to the transverse tube 35. The struts 44 are preferably formed of plate positioned on edge and may be cut away as shown at 45 to reduce the weight.

The vibrator elements 4| may be of any conventional design and are preferably of the sole noid type operated electrically. Each of the vibrator units is provided with a spring 46 whose tension may be adjusted by means of the nuts 41. The tension in the spring controls the magnitude of the blows transmitted by the vibrator to the plates 42 and struts 44. The vibrators may be operated on either alternating or direct current supplied through conduit 48. I have found that a vibratory frequency of thirty-six hundred oscillations per minute gives very good -results.. From the above description it will be understood that vibration of the plates 42 is transmitted through the struts 44 to the-transverse, tube 35. The'material 49 within the hopper is ,thus; subject to the vibratory action of the flexible strips 3| and also to the transverse vibrations: of the tube 35 which is positioned immediately in advance of the screed 30. The tube 35 is free to vibrate with respect to the metallic walls of the hopper, since-it is connected to them only by way of the nonmetallic strips 3| and 36. Undesirable vibration of the screed 39 is maintained at a minimum.

' The amplitude of vibration of the vibrators 4| 'may also beadjusted by varying the voltage apgate or includes a low sand content, the voltage is raised to bring about a higher amplitude of vibrationI The voltage supplied to the vibrators adjacent the bottom of the canal is preferably controlled independently of the voltages supplied to the vibrators adjacent the inclined sides of the canal, so that the magnitude of vibration may be varied and need not be the same at any one instant over the entire length of the continuous hopper. This is an advantageous feature,

length thereof, and as shown in the drawings this means includes one or more distributor cars 54 adapted to roll on a pair of transvers rails 55 mounted on the supporting frame I0. These distributor cars are self-powered and comprise mobile hoppers provided with a movable gate 56 which may be opened to permit the contents of the distributor car to fall by gravity into the upper end of the hopper 26. Suitable plates 51 and 58 may be provided to direct the material from the car into the upper end of the hopper 26. As shown in Figure 1 the rails 55 extend outwardly beyond the location of the longitudinal rails I2 and 3, so that the cars may be rolled to a loading position on either side of the machine as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l. The cars may be filled with concrete in such loading position by means of suitable loading devices (not shown). The cars are then rolled to the selected position on the rails 55 above the continuous hopper 26 and the load discharged when desired by means of an operator who rides on the car.

Since the framework I0 spanning the canal is bolted rigidly to the end frames 20, the entire structure operates as a unit without any pivotal connections. With this feature in mind it will be understood that difficulty would be encountered in negotiating a turn on a curved section of the canal if each of the supporting wheels were flanged to prevent relative lateral movement on the rails l2 and I3 unless the rails were positioned with great accuracy on the walls of the canal. This difliculty is overcome by using flanged wheels 59 on only one of the wheel assemblies and using unflanged wheels 60 on each of the other Wheel, assemblies. Thus, as shown in Figure 7 the wheeled truck 01 wheel assembly I4 is provided with flanged wheels 59, while each of the other trucks |5, I6 and I1 are provided with wheels 69 having no flanges. The trucks I4 and IS on one side of the frame may be driven from a central location 6| by means of the shaft 62. An electrical motor 63 and reduction gear 64 sup ply the power. The wheels 59 and 60 are rotated under power from suitable gearing (not shown) driven by the shaft 62. The motors 63 for 01)- posite sides of the frame may be independently controlled so that one side of th frame may advance faster than the other when negotiating a turn or when such action is necessary in order to bring the framework H) to a position of true perpendicularity with respect to the longitudinal rails |2 and I3. The details of the drive mechanism for the wheels 59 and 60 have been omitted in certain figures of the drawings for clarity of illustration, since these details form no part of my present invention. They are referred to here in order that it may be understood that one side of the machine may be advanced relative to the other when necessary.

Means are provided for indicating to the'operator whether the -framework is positioned perpendicular the parallel supporting rails 1 2 :and l 3 and-for indicating when the framework is disposed at a truly-radial position-when rounding a curve. means includes an indicator. dial 65 -which may be-secured-to the wheeled truck-H =on-the inside portionthereof; together with a pointer 66 cooperating with the dial fii and-pivotally' mounted at --61. A-ceil spring-68-acts to move the pointer in--aclockwise-direction asviewed in- Figure 4. Thepointer 6 6--is con-nected'by a cable -69 which extends from the truck -I 4 *to' the -;truck I S and is attached by means of an end-fitting 10 andpivot bolt .H to'the outer-extendingendof the arm-12.

The arm 12 formsone-armof-abell crank, the othcrarmthereof being identified as 13 and-carrying-a-rollerfH at its outer end.- This roller-bears against the side face 15' of the main supporting rail I 3 The a bell crank member,- including the'arms IQ-and 1-3; is pivetally supportedon the plate ls'whichferms a part-offthe structure of the wheeled truck 15, Th lengths of the'arms -12 an d '|3-of the bell-cran-k-member aresochosen thatthe reading on the dial-65 indicates-therelative positions of the wheeled trucks H andfl onthe rails I3 and [2 respectively. When the pointer 66 extends straight up neither-ofthewheeled trucks l4--or-l1 is in advanceof the-other and: the machine i in the.

correct: operating position. When th needle- 66 moves clockwise it indicates to the operator that the wheeled truck [4 is inadvance of its correct position; When the needle 65 moves-counterolockwisefrom the neutral position shown the operator isapprized-that the truck l4-islagging 'and isstothe rear. of its correct position. The

operator may. then apply power to the wheeled trucks onlopposit sides OfthedeVicein-a differentialzmanner so that. oneside' moves faster than the other andzthus return themachine-to its correct operating position, at which time the needle. 66;. again. points. vertically. upwardly, It is,- of course, important. that'thamachinebeoperated' so that a. uniform thickness of material isdeposited on either sloping sideofr-thecanal.

By watching; the indicator-the operator- (not shown) cancontrol the machine veryaccurately and; can thus maintain the desired uniformity of thickness of deposited material.

In operation the framework l0; andqits associatedparts move slowly along the canal rolling on therails l2- and !3. The machine is preceded alongthe canal by a subgrader device (notshown) which brings the sloping; sides Hand lz andbottom iii of the canal surfacev to the-desiredcontour and smoothes it in preparation to receive the concrete lining. As the framework Ii moves along the canal the operator adjuststhe power delivered; to the wheels, 59 and 60 tomaintain theneedle E5, in anupright position, therebyinsuring that: themachine remains perpendicular to the rails lfiand 33 on the straightrsections of the canal and remains in a true radial posit-ion whenrounding a-curve. The distributor. cars 5,4:move transversely along the rails. rfromrloading position laterally beyond the rails l2 and I3 to discharging positions above the continuous hopper 2":3. The carsthus maintain av supply of concrete within the hopper as the machine progresses down the canal. The concrete in the hopper 26 flows outwardly to the open lower-end thereof under influence-of the vibration imparted by the flexible strips 3 l, 55 and 51 and the transverse tubes 35, 5-2 and If necessary ordesir- As shownin the; drawings, this apt o e. ere ala qa a rm .1 e r surface.

Stabilitytof the iramework is enhanced by the provision of a largewaterta'nk, not shown, which may occupy-the space-marked-il; The water tank suppliesadditional weight to steady'the framework we 1 c Having fully described my. invention, it is to be understood-thatl do not wish to be limited to the. details-herein set forth but-myinvention' is oftheiull-scopeof the appended claims Iclaim; w

1. Apparatus for handling concrete and-like material,- comprising in combination; ahopper adapted to be operated along a form to pass in rial. into the m; a e et i .eim i t'f ii. ms ns m rsilshf h l swer. riiea thehopper, a portion OfIOXilQ wall of the hopper being firmed bra is materi l; a vibrator attachedto said-wall 'portio n anfd a strut within the hopper connecting the vibrator to saidelement, I I

pa a s. 9? hw fl111a9mrstsan l k material; comprising in combination; a hopper p dft? be smt del a fo mia %55 I a.- i i to he rn n amassed l m nt. i s trcusi the. wsrmr ia .Qfi e s pn P rti ai newell 'oiihefhopa rl fiing m ned o ibra adampi s material; membrane attached to said wallgporti andstruts wi him the hopper connecting the vibrators to saidelement.

3. App aratus for handling, concrete and like material, comprising in com'binatiqnz ajhopper a te t ,be op ratedelonsa qrmto-se l "ma.- terial into the form; an, elongated element; ex en ins. ongit ina ly hrw i h Wasat tion ,of one wall of the hopper a1; a s b a q a t c dfi dnea lqi said .wall portion and a. strut within the. ,hopper connecting each pair of vibrators to said element.

Apparatus f handling. concrete. and like material, compris ng. in combination a hopper adaptedto beoperated alongaforin to pas sl material into the, form, the .hopper. havin mm and rearv walls; an, elongated, element, extending longitudinally. through the; lower, portiqnlof; the hopper between said walls, aportio'n-of. the f-ront wall of the hopperbeing, formed. of vihra tion damn mate ial; ibr at as wall portion; anda stru tr wlithinthe hopper-nonnectingthe vibratQ ito said element.- 7

5. Apparatus for handling concrete. and. like a er a mpr nj g mhiha ion-a hemeterial into the form, thefhopper. having front n e l n lvli eted qlsme t i nd 's longitudinally through the lower portion of, the hopper between said walls; a vibrator attached to thefront wall and-positioned-outside the lh oppe-r;- and astrut within the hopper connecting the vibrator to said-element.

6. Apparatus for handling concrete and like material, comprising in combination: a hopper adapted tobe operated along a form to pass material into the form; an elongated element extending longitudinally through the lower portion of the hopper; a vibrator outside the hopper; and a strut within the hopper connecting the vibrator to said element. 7. Apparatus for handling concrete and like material, comprising in combination: a hopper adapted to be operated along a form to pass material into the form, a portion of one wall of the hopper being formed of vibrating damping material; an elongated element extending through the lower portion of the hopper in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the hopper; axially spaced struts extending radially from the element within the hopper and connected to said wall portion; and vibrators outside of the hopper to said wall portions.

8. Apparatus for handling concrete and like material comprising in combination: a hopper adapted to be operated along a form to pass material into the form; an elongated element extending through the lower portion of the hopper in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the hopper; means in the hopper pendently supporting the elongated element for movement transverse to its long axis; axially spaced forwardly extending struts secured to the element within the hopper; and means outside the hopper connected to the struts for vibrating said element.

9. In a device for lining a canal or the like with material such as concrete, the combination of substantially parallel rails on opposite sides of thecanal; a rigid frame spanning the canal and provided with a hopper for discharging materials to line the canal; forward and rear wheel assemblies spaced along the rails on opposite sides of the frame and rigidly connected thereto, a wheel on one of the assemblies being flanged on both sides to confine a rail between the flanges, each of the wheels on the other assemblies being without flanges.

10. In a device for lining a canal or the like with material such as concrete, the combination of: substantially parallel rails on opposite sides of the canal; a rigid frame spanning the canal and provided with a hopper for discharging materials to line the canal; forward and rear wheel assemblies spaced along the rails on opposite sides of the frame and rigidly connected thereto, a wheel'on one of the forward assemblies being flanged on both sides to confine a rail between the flanges, each of the wheels on the other forward and rear assemblies being without flanges.

11. In a device for lining a canal or the like with material such as concrete, the combination of: substantially parallel rails on opposite sides of the canal; a rigid frame spanning thecanal and provided with a hopper for discharging materials to line the canal; forward and rear trucks spaced along the rails on opposite sides of the frame for supporting the frame and rigidly connected thereto, the wheels on one of the trucks being flanged on both sides to confine a rail between the flanges, each of the wheels on the other trucks being without flanges; and power means for driving said wheels.

12. In a device for lining a canal or the like with material such as concrete, the combination of: substantially parallel rails on opposite sides of the canal; a rigid frame spanning the canal and provided with a hopper for discharging materials to line the canal; forward and rear wheels spaced along the rails on opposite sides of the frame and rigidly connected thereto, one forward wheel being flanged on both sides to confine the rail between the flanges, each of the other wheels being without flanges to permit lateral movement of the frame with respect to said rails; andpower means for independently driving wheels on opposite sides of the frame.

13. In a device for lining a canal or the like with material such as concrete, the combination of: parallel rails on opposite sides of the canal; a frame spanning the canal and provided with a hopper for discharging materials to line the canal; forward and rear wheel assemblies spaced along the rails on opposite sides of the frame, a wheel on one of the assemblies being flanged on both sides to confine the rail between the flanges, each of the wheels on the other assemblies being without flanges; a member movably mounted on the frame adjacent one of the unflanged wheel assemblies and adapted to contact a side face of a rail; and an indicator operatively connected with said member and indicating variations in the position of the frame with respect to a line perpendicular to said rails.

14. In a device for lining a canal or the like with material such as concrete, the combination of: parallel rails on opposite sides of the canal; a frame spanning the canal and provided with a hopper for discharging materials to line the canal; forward and rear wheel assemblies spaced along the rails on opposite sides of the frame, a wheel on one of the assemblies being flanged on both sides to confine the rail between the flanges, each of the wheels on the other assemblies being without flanges; a bell crank member pivotally mounted on the frame adjacent one of the unflanged wheel assemblies, one of the arms of the member being provided with a roller contacting the side face of a rail, the other arm being connected to one end of a cable; and an indicator positioned adjacent the other wheel assembly on the same side of the frame and connected to the other end of the cable and indicating the extent of lead or lag of one forward wheel assembly with respect to the other.

15. In a device for lining a canal or the like with material such as concrete, the combination of; parallel rails on opposite sides of the canal; a frame spanning the canal and provided with a hopper for discharging materials to line the canal; forward and rear wheel assemblies spaced along the rails on opposite sides of the frame, a wheel on one of the assemblies being flanged on both sides to confine the rail between the flanges, each of the wheels on the other assemblies being without flanges; and means for indicating the lateral position of one of the unflanged wheel assemblies with respect to its rail, said means including a member movably mounted on the frame and adapted to contact the side face of the rail.

16. Apparatus for handling concrete and like material comprising in combination: a hopper adapted to be operated along a form to pass material into the form; an elongated element extending through the lower portion of the hopper in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the hopper; vibration damping means in the hopper pendently supporting the elongated element for movement transverse to' its long axis; axially spaced forwardly extending struts secured to the element within the hopper; and means outside the hopper connected to the struts for vibrating said element.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,090,959 Jackson Aug. 24, 1937 2,094,974 Wood Oct. 5, 1937 2,101,031 Little Dec. 7, 1937 2,123,989 Day July 19, 1938 2,134,689 French Nov. 1, 1938 2,211,933 Madsen Aug. 20, 1940 2,254,448 Pursel Sept. 2, 1941 

